Iranian officials have attempted to cast blame on Israel for sabotage attacks against Saudi and UAE flagged oil tankers earlier this week. “The events that took place in the Emirates were Israeli mischief,” Iranian parliamentary spokesman Behrouz Nemati said on Tuesday, without citing any evidence or explaining any reasons  why the Iranian government believes so. His remarks came a day after an anonymous US official blamed Iranian agents for the sabotage attacks. Meanwhile, Reports emerged on Tuesday morning that senior US officials are reviewing plans for the possible deployment of up to 120,000 military personnel along with ships, aircraft and vehicles to the Middle East in the event of an outbreak of hostilities with Iran.

Monday marked the first day of the 21st Knesset, as President Reuven Rivlin granted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu an additional two more weeks to form a governing coalition in light of the many holidays and other distractions since the elections on 9 April. Although Netanyahu spoke of “serious progress” in talks with potential coalition partners, Avigdor Lieberman of the Yisrael Beytenu faction used his Knesset speech on Monday to declare that he will sit in the opposition if his party’s demands are not met.

UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov was in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip Monday, telling reporters that “the risk of war remains imminent. We have perhaps the last chance to consolidate the understandings that have been reached [between Israel and Hamas] and to make sure that the situation avoids another escalation. The next escalation is going to be probably the last one. I know that last weekend we got the closest we have ever been to another full war. Everyone is extremely nervous; everyone in the situation is very fragile.”

Attorneys for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement on Tuesday that he would like to request a date for a pre-indictment hearing with Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit in the three cases against him involving accusations of corruption. The announcement was a surprise to many legal analysts following several weeks in which Netanyahu’s lawyers had refused to set a date, citing a dispute with the Prime Minister over payment of their legal fees.

The U.S. has amplified its economic sanctions against Iran in recent days. The U.S. has also begun moving forces to the Persian Gulf and closer to Iran. The Europeans have stressed that despite their commitment to the nuclear deal, if Iran stops fulfilling its obligations they will have to renew sanctions.

Recently, a panel of experts was called to testify before the US House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and International Terrorism on “Chinese and Russian Influence in the Middle East.” The testimony and questions by elected officials covered a wide range of topics including the possible effects of great power interventions in the region on Israel.

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